Portable boat-motor.



No. 638,542. Patented Dec. 5, I899. a. F. ATWOOD.

PORTABLE BOAT MOTOR.

(Application filed June 7, 1899.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet l.

MEN!!! No. 638,542. Patented Dec. 5, I899. G. F. ATWDOD.

PORTABLE BOAT MOTOR.

(Application filed. June 7, 1899.) (No Model.) 3 sheets sheat 2.

KRIS Pnws cn mow Lrno mm D c No- 638,542. Patented Dec. 5, I899. G. F.ATWOOO.

PORTABLE BOAT MOTOR.

(Application filed June 7, 1899.)

3 ShoetsSheet 3.

(No Model.)

WVIT E5555- IIh/ENTEIR- Nrrnn STATES PATENT FHQE GEORGE F. ATWOOD, OFOHAZY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO WVILLIAM W. WOOD, OF W'OODSFALLS, NEW YORK.

PORTABLE BOAT-MOTOR.

$PECIFICA'1ION forming part of Letters Patent No. 638, 542, datedDecember 5, 1899. Application filed June 7, 1899. Serial No. 719,724. Nmodel.

To to whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE F. ATwooD, a citizen of the United States,residing at West Ohazy, in the county of Clinton and State of New York,have invented new and useful Improvements in Portable Boat-Motors, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to electromotors for propelling boats; and it hasfor one ofits objects to provide an electromotor adapted to be quicklyand easily applied to and as quickly and easily removed from an ordinaryboat without altering the construction of the same.

Another object of the invention is to arrange the electromotor in acasing mounted on and connected to a rudder-post and provide a handleconnected with the casing, the said handle being adapted to be swung ina horizontal plane to move the rudder and steer the boat and being alsoadapted tobe manipulated for the purpose of controlling theelectromotor.

Another object is to provide an electromotor and a controlling devicethrough the medium of which the motor may be readily started and stoppedand operated at full speed with the full power of the electric generatorand at half-speed with but a portion of the power of the electricgenerator.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be fully understoodfrom the following description and claims when taken in conjunction withthe annexed drawings, in which- Figure l is a side elevation of the rearportion of a boat with my improved motor and steering apparatus inposition thereon. Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken through the motorand the casing in which it is arranged, and also illustrating the upperswivel connection for attaching my improvements to the stern of a boat.Fig. 3 is a detail elevation, partly in section, illustrating thearmatore-cylinder and the commutator of the motor. Fig. 4. is asectional view illustrating the rudder and propeller-carrying frame andthe manner of connecting the same with the stern of a boat. Figs. 5 and6 are diagrammatic views illustrating the circuits through the electricgenerator and electromotor, according to different manipulations of thecontrolling device.

Fig. 7 is a detail plan view with parts in section, illustrating theelectromotor in its casing, the steering-handle, and the device forcontrolling the motor. Fig. Sis an inverted plan View of themotor-casing. Fig. 9 is a detail section illustrating the manner inwhich the tube carrying the steering-handle is connected with the casingof the motor, and Fig. 10 is an enlarged detail section takentransversely through the handle at one end of the tube in which saidhandle is journaled.

Referring by letters and figures to the said drawings, A indicates aboat of the ordinary or any suitable construction, and B indicatescastings which are connected to the sternpost of the boat, adjacent tothe upper and lower ends of the same, and are provided withvertically-disposed sleeves a,as shown. These sleeves a loosely receivepins 1) c, the upper pin 1) being connected to the under side of themotor-casin g O,while the lower pin cis loosely connected to ascrew-bolt d, for a purpose presently described.

D indicates a tubular rudder-post, which is fixedly connected at itsupper end to the under side of the motor-casing C and is pro videdadjacent to its lower end with a threaded aperture e, which receives thescrew d, as better shown in Fig. 4:,whereby it will be seen that saidrudder-post may readily be adj usted so as to rest in a verticalposition irrespective of the inclination of the stern-post of the boat.The said post D is provided atits lower portion with a fixedly-connectedframe-bar f, to which a rudder g is fixedly connected and between whichand the post D is arranged the propeller h, which is fixed on a shaft1', journaled in the barf and post D, as shown. On its end within thepost D the shaft 1' is provided with a beveled pinion j, with whichmeshes a similar pinion on the lower end of a vertical shaft Z, whichextends up through the post D and is provided at its upper end with agear-wheel 'm for the engagement of a pinion n on the shaft 19 of theelectromotor, presently described.

In virtue of the construction thus far described it will be seen thatwhen the electromotor, presently described, is set in motion the shaft Zwill be rotated,as will also the shaft 2' and the propeller hthereon,and it will also be seen that when the rudder-postD is swung in eitherdirection in the arc of a circle to steer the boat the motor-casing andthe propeller will move with it, and consequently the rotation of thepropeller will not be interrupted or interfered with.

E indicates a tube of suitable metal which is designed to serve as atiller for moving the post D and steering the boat. This tube E has oneend arranged in a sleeve 19' of the motor-casing and provided with abayonet-- slot q to receive a stud a", through the medium 'of which thetube is detachably connected to the sleeve. The tube extends laterallyfrom the motor-casing and thence forwardly.

F indicates a handle which has a reduced portion j ournaled and suitablysecu red in the forward end of the tube E and provided with a rod 8.

tindicatesa shaft which rests partly within the tube E and partly Withinthe motor-casing and is provided with suitable contacts, hereinafterdescribed, which are insulated from each other and from the shaft, andit indicates a wire coil which is connected to the rod 3 and shaft 25and is adapted, when the handle F is rotated or partially rotated orrocked on its axis, to transmit such movement to the shaft t for apurpose presently described.

The handle F (see Fig. 10) is provided with a finger a and the tube Ewith stops b to limit the rotation of the handle. The finger and stopsare not,h0wever, essential and may be dispensed with when desirable.

G indicates the electromotor, which is mounted upon the base'plate CL ofthe casing O and is arranged entirely within said casing, so as to beprotected from water and dirt. This motor G differs from the ordinarywellknown motors only in the compact arrangement of its organs or parts,and it comprises the magnets forming the magnetic field b, the armature0, arranged within the magnetic field and fixed on the shaft 19, beforedescribed, the com mutator d, arranged above the armature and magneticfield, and the brushes 6', all of which are of the ordinary constructionand need not, therefore, be particularly described herein.

H (see Figs. 5, 6, and 7) indicates the electric generator, of anysuitable type, which may be situated at any desired point in the boat.

I J indicate blocks of insulating material which are connected to thebase-plate a of the motor-casing, the latter block extending within saidcasing.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 indicate brushes connected to the block J andinsulated from each other.

7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, and indicate contacts on the shaft t, whichare insulated from said shaft and from each other.

16 indicates a conductor connecting brush 2 and end plus pole of thegenerator.

17 indicates a conductor connecting end minus pole of the generator andbrush 4.

18 indicates a conductor connecting an intermediate plus pole of thegenerator and the brush 3.

19 20 indicate the brushes of the commutator d.

21 is a conductor between brush 1 and brush 19.

22 is a conductor between brush 20 and the brush 5.

23 is a conductor between brush 6 and the magnetic field b.

24 is a conductor between magnetic field b and the brush 4. g

26 is an electrical connection between contacts 7 and 8.

27 is an electrical connection between contacts 9 and 10.

28 is an electrical connection between contacts 10 and 11.

29 is an electrical connection between contacts 15 and 13, and 30 is anelectrical connec* tion between contacts 14 and 12.

WVith the shaft trestingin a position to hold the several contacts 7 to15, as represented in Fig. 6, the circuit will be from end plus pole ofgenerator H, through conductor 16, brush 2, contact 10, connection 28,contact 11, brush 1, conductor 21, commutator-brush 19, commutator d,commutator-brush 20, conductor 22, brush 5, contact 7, connection 26,contact 8, brush 6, conductor 23, magnetic field b, conductor 24, brush4, and conductor 17, to end minus pole of generator, and in consequencethe motor is driven with the full power of the generator at full speedin a direction to propel the boat forwardly. If the shaftt be nowpartially rotated a suitable distance to carry the contact 9 intoengagement with the brush 3 and the contact 10 out of engagement withthe brush 2, the circuit will be from an intermediate plus pole of thegenerator H, through conductor 18, brush 3, contact 9, connection 27,contact 10, connection 28, contact 11, brush 1, conductor 21,commutator-brush 19, commutator d, commutator-brush 20, conductor 22,brush 5, contact 7, connection 26, contact 8, brush 6, conductor 23,magnetic field b, conductor 24, brush 4, and conductor 17, to end minuspole of generator, and in consequence the motor is driven with but partof the power of the generator at a slow speed in a direction to propelthe boat forwardly.

If the shaft the now partially rotated in the same direction as before asufficient distance to disengage the contact 9 from brush 3, (thecontact 10 being already out of engagement with brush 2,) the electricalconnection with the plus poles of the battery will be interrupted, andin consequence the motor will stop. If the shaft 25 be now turned stillfar-- ther in the same direction a sufiicient distance to carry thecontacts 12, 13, 14, and 15 into engagement with brushes 5, 6, 2, and 1,the current from the plus pole of the generator will pass throughconductor 16, brush 2, contact 14, connection 30, contact 12, brush5,conductor 22, commutator-brush 20, commutator d, commutator-brush 19,conductor 21, brush 1, contact 15, connection 29, contact 13, brush 6,conductor 23, magnetic field b, conductor 24, brush D, and conductor 17to minus pole of generator, and in consequence the direction of rotationof the armature and propeller will be reversed and the boat will bebacked.

It will be observed from the foregoing that with a single band appliedto the handle F on tube E the operator is enabled by moving said handlein a horizontal plane to steer the boat, and by turning it on its axisto start the motor and operate it at full and part speed in a directionto drive the boat forwardly and also to reverse the motor so as to backthe boat.

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim is 1. The combination ofa boat, a post connected with the boat so as to permit of it being swungto and fro and carrying a rudder, a propeller also carried by said post,an electromotor arranged in a casing on the post and connected with thepropeller, an electric generator, a switch connected with the conductorsleading to the electromotor and conductors leading to the end plus andminus poles of the generator and also with a conductor leading to anintermediate pole of the generator and adapted to be manipulated so asto utilize either the full power or a fraction of the power of thegeneratorto actuate the motor, and a handle adapted for oscillatory androcking movements; said handle being connected with the rudder-post andalso having a connection with the switch whereby, on being oscillated,it controls the steering of the boat and when rocked on its axisoperatesthe motor-controlling switch.

2. The combination of a boat, a post connected with the boat so as topermit of it being swungto and fro and carryingarudder, apropeller alsocarried by said post, a casing arranged on the post, an electromotorarranged in said casing and connected by interposed gearing with thepropeller, an electric generator, electric connections between thegenerator and motor, a device for controlling the motor, and a handleadapted for oscillatory and rocking movements; said handle beingconnected with the rudder-post and also having a connection with themotor-controlling device, whereby, on being oscillated it controls thesteering of the boat and when rocked operates the motor-controllingdevice, substantially as specified.

3. The combination of a boat, a propelling motor, a device forcontrolling the same, a rudder, and a handle adapted for oscillatory androcking movements; said handle being connected with the rudder and alsohavinga connection with the device controlling the motor, whereby, onbeing oscillated, it controls the steering of the boat and when rockedoperates the motor-controlling device, substantially as specified.

4. The combination of a boat, a rudder-post connected with the stern ofthe boat so as to permit of it being swung in the arc of a circle andcarrying a rudder and a propeller, a motor-casing fixed on saidrudder-post, an electromotor arranged in said casing, an electricgenerator, a rotary switch for controlling the electromotor, a tubeconnected to the motor-casin g, and a rotatable or partially rotatablehandle mounted on the tube and connected with the rotatable switch,substantially as specified.

5. The combination of aboat, a rudder-post connected with the stern ofthe boat so as to permit of it being swung in the arc of a circle andcarrying a rudder and a propeller, a motor-casing fixed on saidrudder-post, an electromotor arranged in said casing, a rotary switchfor controlling the electromotor, a tube connected to the motor inalinement with the rotary switch, a rotatable or partially rotatablehandle journaled in the tube, and a wire coil connecting the handle andthe rotary switch, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

GEORGE F. ATWOOD. Witnesses:

GRAFTON L. McGILL, THOMAS E. TURPIN.

